peckham



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. PBOKHAM. ,SELF LUBRIGATING nns'r TIGHT AXLE BOX.

No. 555,531. Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

(No Model.) 5 2 SheetsSheet 2.

E. PEOKHAM.

Y SELF LUBRIOATING DUST TIGHT AXLE BOX.

Patented Mar. 3, 1896.

. axle.

'ATENT EDGAR PECKHAM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SELF-LUBRICATING DUST-TIG HT AXLE-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,531, dated March 3, 1896. Application filed June 2, 1892. Renewed August 6, 1995. Serial No. 558,332. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

, Be it known that I, ED GAR PEOKHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of, New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Lubricating Dust- Tight Axle-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in self-lubricatin g dust-tight axle-boxes for use on electrically-propelled street-oars, though applicable as well to steam and horse cars.

The object of the invention is to provide an efficient means for applying lubricating material to the journal-bearing within the axlebox, and also to construct the axle-box at its inner or rear end, which is in close proximity to the wheel of the vehicle, in such manner as that there may be easily combined therewith and securely maintained in place a suitable packing material that will surround the j ournal of the axle and serve to exclude dust from the journal-bearing within the axle-box.

My improvements are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which show the best forms that have occurred to me of applying the same, and in these drawings like parts are designated throughout the several views by the same letters of reference, and in claims at the end hereof I have set forth the features and combinations for which I desire protection by Letters Patent.

In the drawings which form part of this specification, Figure 1 shows a central longitudinal section of an axle-box embodying my invention, the journal of the axle and the endless chain which is suspended from the j ournal and which serves to supply the lubricant to the journal -bearing being in full lines. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the line 2 2 of Figs. 1 and 7. Fig. 3 is aview in elevation of the rear or inner end of the axle-box, showing the journal of the axle in section. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the packing-ring which co-operates with the inner end of the axle-box and the journal of the Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the wooden wedge against which the ends of the packing-band in the groove at the inner end of the axle-box, Fig. 1, seats. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the j ournal-bearing,showing the channels in its operative surface. Fig. '7 is a central longitudinal section of an axle-box with my improvements embodied therein, the entrance to the box at its inner end being provided at the bottom with a rib or elevation formed integral with the box and performing the function of the removable wedge of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a view in elevation of the rear or inner end of the axle-box of Fig. 7, the journal of the axle and the elevation or rib at the entrance to the box being in section on line 8 8. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the packing ring or band which is made use of in the embodiment of my invention which is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 10 is a cross-section through the rear end of an axle-box of my construction, showing a packing-ring supportingwedge which is removably inserted in a slot at the bottom of the entrance to the box, the wedge in this construction being driven in longitudinally; and Fig. 11 is a vertical section on the line 11 11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the body of the axle-box which is provided with a depression on its upper surface and with a socket in its bottom surface, and with which depression and socket certain parts of the truck-gearing are adapted to co-operate; but such parts of the gearing are not shown in the present application, as they form no portion of the invention herein described.

The front end of the axle-box is closed by a cover B, which is readily removable, and through the opening closed by cover 13 is supplied the lubricating material for the journal-bearing. Within the axle-box, at the top thereof, is located the journal-bearing O, of brass or other suitable metal, and it is interposed between the journal D of the axle E and the inner top surface of the axle-box, as shown. The configuration of the bearingsurface of the journal-bearing O,which co-operates with the journal D of the axle, is indicated in the cross-section, Fig. 2, it being semicylindrical to conform to the journal.

To supply the lubricating material to the bearing 0, I make use of a flexible ring or band, or preferably an endless chain G, which is suspended from the journal of the axle and depends into the lubricating material in the bottom of the axle-box. The journal-bearin g C is grooved, as at a, at right angles to its semicircular bearing-surface, and it is within this groove that the band or endless chain travels. The band or chain G is thus adapted to be carried around with the revolution of the axle, and thereby operates to constantly lift in limited but sufficient quantities the lubricating material from the bottom of the axle-box to the journal-bearing (J, and by reason of the location of the chain within the groove (0 its position on the axle is maintained. The operative surface of bearing 0 is also provided with a series of grooves a, which are in communication with the groove (1 within which the band or endless chain is located and which terminate at the respect ive corners of the bearing 0, the purpose of the grooves a being to assist in distributing the lubricating-oil evenly onto the journal I), the oil flowing from the main groove (t through grooves a toward the ends of the journal. By the described means I provide an efficient and economical mode of keeping the journal of the axle well lubricated.

The inner end of the journal I) (at b) is constructed as usual for car-axles and is maintained in its relation to the bearing 0 by a yoke fitting around a groove in the j ournal and within a groove in the axle-box or in any other suitable manner.

The journal D of the axle terminates at the point I), which may be just within the entrance at the rear of the axle-box, as shown in Fig. 7, or immediately outside the axlebox, as shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 7, the packing band or ring if abuts against the shoulder formed at this terminal point I). In Fig. 1 the packing II surrounds an enlargement of the journal D, which is absent from Fig. 7, but this is a detail which is a matter of no special importance.

The groove or recess it within the rear end of the axle-box is formed integral with the axle-box casting and of such dimensions as to adapt it to receive and securely hold the packing-band II, which is sprung into place. \Vhen the wedge d is not used said packingband completely surrounds the axle or its journal, its ends coming together at the bottom of the groove beneath the axle to form a complete ring or band around the axle.

In Fig. 1 the entrance at the rear of the axle-box is surrounded by a rim 0 integral with the casting, said rim extending clean around the opening and furnishing in connection with the inwardly-proj ecting portion 0 of the casting a groove or recess h to receive the packing band or ring H, of felt or other suitable substance. At the bottom of groove or recess 71, centrally below the journal D, I firmly seat a wedge-shaped key d, of wood or other suitable material and of the conformation shown in Fig. 5. The dimen sions of wedge (Z are such that it is adapted when driven in place to remain firmly secured against displacement, though capable of being readily removed by suitable tools. The

sides of wedge (Z flare outwardly and furnish bearing-surfaces for the ends of the packing-band H, which ends are cut to bevel to ward the inner circumference of the ring so that they may conform to the oppositely-inclined sides of the wedge (Z. The top surface of wedge d is concave, as shown-that is, it is so formed as to conform to the cir cnmference of the journal D, but depressed below the inner circumference of the packingringli, as best indicated in Fig. 3. The space c thus provided between the top surface of the wedge (Z and the circumference of journal I) affords a vent which prevents the oil from beingpumped out of the axle-box by therevolution of the journal within the box, and also allows the heated air to escape from the box. The depression on top of wedge (1 serves also as a channel to convey back to the reservoir the oil that drips from the journal.

The function of the. packing band or ring I I, located, as explained, at the rear or inner end of the axle-box in close proximity to the wheel of the vehicle, is to close up the entrance into the axle-box at the rear and thus prevent dust and grit from being drawn into the axle-box and lodging upon the journalbearing.

In Figs. 7 and S the rear end of the axleboxis shown provided with lugs or ears 0 instead of with a solid continuous wall in front of the recess 7t. There may be two or more of these lugs 0, preferably three, and they are formed integral with the casting which comprises the axle-box, and their function is the same as the wall 0 of Fig. 1-that is, to retain the packing band or ring II in place within the groove h. Figs. 7 and 8 also show the elevation against which the packing-band II is seated to be formed integral with the casting of the axle-box, and it is lettered d. Its side walls are beveled in an opposite direction from the side walls of the removable wedge cl of Figs. 1 and 3, and the ends of the co-operating packing-band are consequently cut to bevel toward its outer circumference. The rib d, aside from its being fixed and formed integral with the axle-box, is an exact equivalent of the wedge d, as it serves in the same way as said wedge to prevent the packing band or ring from slipping or being carried around with the revolution of the journal D, which when in place presses against said packing II, as seen in Figs. 3, 8 and 10, thus making a tight joint.

In Figs. 10 and 11 the rear end of the axlebox is also provided with lugs or ears 0, as in Figs. 7 and 8. In the construction of these views, Figs. 10 and 11, however, the elevation or rib which co-operates with the packing I-I consists of a detachable wedge (1 having liarin g sides and concave top surface the same as wedge (Z of Fig. 1 and adapted to take the place of the integrally-formed rib of Figs. '7 and 8, which is omitted from the construction of Figs. 10 and 11, the axle-box in the latter views at the bottom of the entrance at its rear end being provided with a groove 6, open at the front, into which the wedge (Z is driven longitudinally. The wedge d obviously performs the same function as wedge d and fixed rib cl and is only another modification of the main and preferred construction which I show in Figs. 1 and 3.

Instead of a single endless chain, as shown in the present illustration of my invention, serving to elevate the lubricating material in contact with the journal-bearing, it is obvious that two or more of such endless chains may be made use of, and in such case bearing 0 willbe provided with a corresponding number of grooves on within which the chains would travel. By providing the subsidiary grooves a in the operating-surface of the bearing 0 I am enabled to obtain entirely satisfactory results with a single elevating chain or band.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an axle-box provided at its rear entrance with a circumferential recess or groove for a packing-band and with a rib or elevation at the bottom of the entrance at the rear of the axle-box, of a packing-band fitted within the aforesaid recess or groove with its ends resting against the said rib or elevation in the path of the groove, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an axle-box provided with a circumferential groove or recess at its rear entrance, to receive a packing-band, and with a rib or elevation at the bottom of said entrance at the rear of the axle-box, the

with which said packing-band co-operates, the depressed or concave surface of the aforesaid 'rib or elevation being separated from said axle-journal and thus providing an openin g between the latter and said rib or elevation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination with an axle-box provided at its rear end with a circumferential recess or groove intercepted at its bottom by a rib or elevation having beveled or inclined side walls, of an axle-journal and a packingband fitted within said recess or groove of the axle-box and adapted to bear upon the axlejournal, the ends of said packing-band beveled to conform to the side walls of the aforesaid rib or elevation and co-operating therewith, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination with an axle-box provided at its rear end'with a circumferential recess or groove, of a wedge-formed projection or elevation removably inserted therein, and a packing-band also inserted within said groove or recess with its ends resting against said wedge-formed projection or elevation and adapted to co-operate with the axle-journal within the axle-box, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 27th day of May, A. D. 1892.

EDGAR PEOKHAM.

Witnesses:

O. R. WATERBURY, J. E. M. BOWEN. 

